Hlompho Kekana of Mamelodi Sundowns celebrates his goal with his team mates during the Absa Premiership match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on February 25, 2017 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)
Sundowns had a bitter taste going into the encounter after losing 3-0 to the Clever Boys in the MTN8 Cup final back in October last year. The retribution was led by none other than captain fantastic Hlompho Kekana with a sublime freekick five minutes before the break to give Masandawana the lead. Kekana pin-pointed his strike well over Wits’ three-man wall to beat goalkeeper Darren Keet at near post.
Former Wits captain Sibusiso Vilakazi, who went up against his former side for the second time, scored the winner deep into injury time to ensure the home side bag all three points.
Although the half-time score reflected the contrary – Wits looked like the better side most part of the first interval, with Gabadinho Mhango coming close to opening the scoring as early as the third minute. The striker leaped over Downs’ defence, only for his header to go wide off the target. His effort was followed up by numerous half-chances falling to fellow attackers James Keene and Diane Klate.
Pitso Mosimane’s injury woes were worsened when an 18th minute injury to goalkeeper Denis Onyango forced the African Coach-of-the-Year’s hand to make an early substitute, introducing veteran shot-stopper Wayne Sandilands. Downs already had Anthony Laffor, Anele Ngcongca and Khama Billiat sidelined by midweek injuries picked up against Platinum Stars.
An unusual surge forward by full-back Bangaly Soumahoro sent the crowd into raptures as the big Ivorian launched what looked like a Lionel Messi-like run, but he was soon stopped in his tracks.
The second stanza got off to similar fashion, this time with Sundowns throwing the dice first as Yannick Zakri turned at the edge of the box to unleash a powerful grass-cutting shot, but the effort was not enough to test Keet.
Wits’ search for an equalizer intensified towards the hour mark and they starved Sundowns the ball, making their midfielders chase shadows in the middle of the park, to a point where midfield enforcer Tiyani Mabunda committed a reckless tackle on Thabo Monare, adding his name to referee Thando Ndzandzeka’s list of cautions.
Striker Zakri continued to frustrate the Brazilians faithful as he repeatedly squandered chance-after-chance, forcing fans to call for him to be substituted. Mosimane responded immediately as he brought on Columbian striker Leonardo Castro.
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